Party Poker Blog

Good Lord, the BadBeat Jackpot on Party Poker is now sitting at $670,000.

Will someone please hit this thing so I can get my life back??

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I got my wish - it was hit.

In celebration of heading back to my regular games, here's the ESPN chat with Scott Fischman.


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Andrew Feldman: Welcome to the ESPN Poker Club! Scott Fischman will be here in a
couple minutes so keep on sending in those questions!


Billy (Akron, Ohio): whats going on with the crew?

Scott Fischman: The crew at this point is just a group
of friends. We're not actively marketing anything. The crew isn't going to break
up because we're friends and we're going to be playing poker for a long time. As
far as further ventures I think everyone's just being lazy and not pursuing
everything. Everyone's doing their own thing so its hard to get everyone
together to get new stuff done.


Romeo Alexandria va: what is your thought on line poker? Can one make good money
beating up on bad and novice players?

Scott Fischman: Yea. Online poker is a great way to
improve your game because there is so much available with so many different
options. You can experiment in different things. You can invest small amounts of
money that can really help to tweak your game. I play at a couple different
sites, but mainly my site, thefishtank.com


Matt (NYC): Scott, being 23 myself and currently grinding it out at low limit
games to build my bankroll, how did you amass such a large bankroll at such an
early age? What's the secret?

Scott Fischman: Dedication. Time spent plugging away. I
was also fortunate enough to have a backer at some of the live tournaments. That
was a great help. It's kind of a luck thing, someone thats willing to back you.
The fact that they backed me was the key to getting to a huge bankroll since I
was getting into tournaments that I couldn't regularly play.


Chris (High Springs, Fl) : I saw your bad beat in the WCOOP Main event, how does
that compare to live bad beats in tournaments? Other than beating up on your
mouse.

Scott Fischman: You get to scream really loud. And its
frustrating because you always feel like you get more bad beats online, but its
really not the case. They happen just as frequently in live games and they are
just as brutal.


francisco, santa ana,ca: do you play more online or in casinos

Scott Fischman: I would have to say I would play more
online, more hours anyway. Recently I've started to play a lot more in live, but
its taken me a while to get comfortable to play tournaments and cash games,
which is something that I'm just now getting used to.


JOHNNY: HEY SCOTT ENJOY WATCHING YOU PLAY MY QUESTION IS WHEN U PLAY ON LINE
WHAT GAME TO U MOSTLY PLAY TO EARN MONEY?

Scott Fischman: I mostly play Multi-table tournaments
and Sit and Gos, from $10-$200. On my site I hop around, I play $20/$40 a lot.


Lebrason (TX): Hi Scott, Where is that secret bathroom in the Rio you mentioned
about? or were you just bluffing?

Scott Fischman: It really exists. It was Cardplayer's
little back office in the hallway and it had a bathroom in there. There were
only 6 guys that knew about it and it was the key to success at the 2005 WSOP.


Ty (Washington D.C.): Scott, what is the best way to improve my game.

Scott Fischman: Play online and experiment with all the
different style. Really tweak your game by trying lots of new things and figure
out which one works best. Trial and error is really the best answer.


Bo (Belair, Md): Phil Ivy is such a pussycat looking dude, kinda easy going.
What is it about him that makes him so intimidating to others ?

Scott Fischman: He bascially has no emotions. In poker,
being able to turn of your emotions is really a good thing and he never reacts,
gets upset, happy, or anything about any of his results. Thats something I have
really been working on mentally and it helps out.


Joey (Greenville, SC): Scott: Who, in your experience, is the hardest
professional poker player to read? Who is the most intimidating?

Scott Fischman: The hardest player to read is John Phan
and the most intimidating is "The Grinder" Michael Mizrachi and Phil Ivey.


Rob: Scott- Do you think some of the younger/new guys out there, are too cocky
or over the top? Or do you think that brings them an advantage?

Scott Fischman: No. I think cocky is a good thing in
poker. Having confidence and believing in yourself is something that you should
have. Whether they are cocky or not, its not a bad thing in poker.


Johannes (Pismo Beach, CA): What brings in more money in the long run,
Tournaments or Side Cash games?

Scott Fischman: In the long run, tournaments,
definitely. You get that big score, its huge.


Mike (San Jose): Scott, you seem to be mostly a tournament player, but I've read
you play small stakes hold em, 3/6, 5/10. Do you ever play higher limits?

Scott Fischman: Recently I have been able to tackle the
live games and really took a learning to getting better in those and not just
playing low limits online. Recently I've been playing higher and it takes a long
time to learn the differences between tournaments and ring game. Take some time
and learn one, then if you can, learn the other.


eric land o lakes, fl: what book do i need to read. and did you read alot of
books to get better or just talk alot with friends

Scott Fischman: I never read a poker book. Thats
basically right where the crew came in. Talking a lot with my friends and just
trial and error. Try this, it works, try that it works, just that kind of stuff.
My book, coming out next year, will be for the guy that doesnt like to read.


Ross (NY, NY): Do you have a favorite/least favorite hand to play?

Scott Fischman: My favorite hand is pocket 8s, which I
call pocket, "eightses". I dont have a least favorite hand, I'll play anything
if the position is right.


RA (Sacramento CA): Hey Scott- What is the best advice you have received from
some of the pro's like Cloutier or Brunson (if any)? Do you have a poker "Hero"?


Scott Fischman: Yea, Brunson would be my hero and as far
as advice, I cant really think of one specific thing because I really keep my
ears and eyes open and I use everything I hear all the time. Theres not one
thing I can really remember, just learning while you are at the table is one
important thing to do.


David (Washington DC): Do you think it is useful to play online with play money,
or does that keep the style of play from being realistic?

Scott Fischman: I think that play money is useful for
learning hand values, but thats it. Learning how the actual game works and
learning how often 2 pair is good, for example, to kind of get a feel for how
good your hands are. You cant really get a competitive feel and competition is
important.

Andrew Feldman: But you can play for real prizes for
FREE at the Espn Poker Club : http://games.espn.go.com/poker/index


Brian (Tampa): Where can I get a fishtank hoodie?

Scott Fischman: We're in the process of going through a
new distributor, so email me and when we get that stuff ready I'll be ready to
send it out or sell it. My address is on my website, scottfischman.com


Royce (Denver, CO): Since 9 out of 10 online poker sites are crooked, why is
yours different? Where are the servers housed and who oversees the site?

Scott Fischman: Crooked is in the eye of the beholder.
They are safe to play, all of them, as all players do. If you are uncomfortable
playing on a certain site, then don't do it as it will affect your game. Find a
place you are happy with and stick with place.


Brian (Tampa): What did you think of your beat over Joe Awada? I know ESPN made
it out to be a horrible beat, but I thought you made a great play and he made a
marginal call.

Scott Fischman: Exactly. Couldn't have said that any
better. I was watching the show the other day and he said it was the best hand
he ever played. In my opinion it wasn't a very good call. He's a very good
player and I love him to death, but that definitely was not the best hand he
ever played.


Chops (Wicked Chops Poker): Scott, congrats on all of your success. Truly
impressive. Question: why do you think the Crew are/were so polarizing in the
poker community? Some people seemed to really respect your (collective)
game...others were very put-off. Did the 2004 ESPN WSOP coverage just make too
big a deal of the whole thing?

Scott Fischman: In 2004 that was my first time ever on
TV and if you compare 2004 to 2005 you can see that I've grown, and I've
learned, and I'm a good player. I've learned to control my emotions like I was
saying earlier. I was emotional in 2004, I'm not emotional anymore.


mike upstate ny: scott i enjoy watching you play, what are your thoughts on
tourniments with mutiple rebuys? i personally don't like them! thanks

Scott Fischman: I actually love multiple rebuy
tournaments because anytime they give you an opporutnity to get more chips you
should take them. I go to the Daniel Negreanu school of rebuys. Its a huge
advantage if you have money and a bankroll and you should take that. If you cant
afford a rebuy tournament, you shouldn't play in it.


rocky sacramento, ca: overall, what percentage of flops do you see by position
should you err on the side of caution?

Scott Fischman: Yes, err on the side of caution. I see a
lot of flops, depending how much it costs me in comparison to the size of my
stack. It's less position and more percentage of stack.


Angel (Somers Point, NJ): Are you getting a lot of girls now that you are a big
TV star?

Scott Fischman: I have no girlfriend and I've been
waiting to marry you since I was 5.


Justin (Philly): Scott, who is the most underrated player in the game today? Who
is the most overrated?

Scott Fischman: The most underrated is Alan Goehring. He
won the championship in the Bellagio and nobody ever talks about him. The most
overrated is Mr. Phil Hellmuth, who has 9 bracelets, all in hold'em, and isn't a
great all around player in my opinion.


Angel (Somers Point, NJ): Is your social life effected, because i know a lot of
girls whose boyfriends are really really getting into this and the girls...not
so much. Plus we were thinking of coming out to visit sometime!

Scott Fischman: I have no social life because all I Do
is play poker. And I believe I am coming out to Foxwoods in November.


Justin Shronk (King of Prussia: Scott, ever play against Joe Hachem? If so, what
do you think of his play?

Scott Fischman: No, but I saw him at the commerce. In my
eyes to win that event he must is a very good poker player, not just LUCKY.


Brian (Tampa): If you saw it, what did you think of Devilfish tearing into
Raymer on ESPN last week. What do you think Devilfish would say if he were up
against someone who really has little skill and was very lucky to win the main
event (say, moneymaker, varkoni)?

Scott Fischman: I dont know what he would say, but I
love devilfish to death. He made the final table of both the $1500 NL
tournaments with over 2K players. It was one of the most major accomplishments
of 2005. He's an ass at the table, but he's one of the few players that can get
away with it. He wasn't just picking on Greg, he was picking on everybody.


Eric (Columbia, MD): I was 4-6 SB and flopped 446 I lost to a guy who had a 4
and got his card on the river. how should I have played that flop. I slow played
it at the time

Scott Fischman: Probably the same way you did, its just
a bad beat, nothing you can do.


Johannes (Pismo Beach, CA): Where's your most favorite place to play?

Scott Fischman: I've grown pretty fond of the commerce
and the Bellagio. Both those places are really comfortable and the staff is
great.


Greg: Where has Dutch Boyd been?

Scott Fischman: Dutch has been playing online a lot.
He's living in Vegas, right around the corner from mine and we chill out once in
a while. He hasn't traveled to live tournaments that much, just playing a lot
online.


Lou (howell, NJ): With online play you're able to do a great many things at the
same time as playing, ie madden if you so choose... I find that since you're
able to eat while playing online without interruption, have you found that a
difficult thing to do during live ring games? force yourself to get up and eat,
or simply eat at the table? And do you tend to set a time limit on yourself to
make sure you eat at certain time intervals?

Scott Fischman: No, eating is a chore for me. I dont
like to eat a lot at the table because of bladder issues and its hard to stay
focused and eat a lot. I am probably one of the few poker players who has lost
weight playing poker.


Joe (White Plains, NY): Is there proper attire for a beginner to wear at the
table? (other than fishtank gear) and how do people concentrate with an iPod in
their ear?

Scott Fischman: Proper attire is antying that keeps you
comfortable and keeps you warm since its often cold at the casino. Ipod - I can
concentrate, but I feel that you miss out on a lot of communication, verbal
tells, but its easy to concentrate. I listen to music all the time when playing
online, its better than watching TV.


Jimmy (Toledo): Hows it Scott? Which casinos do you recommend for cash games and
tournys in Vegas for a player that does not have a Scott Fischman type bankroll?


Scott Fischman: I would say the Orleans. They have
tournaments a day plus low limit cash games, its basically a poker orgy over
there.


Mark (Boston): You're from Somers Point? I was just in neighboring Ocean City
last weekend for work...do you ever go back there and head to Atlantic City? If
so, which casinos are best there?

Scott Fischman: Yes I'm from Somers Pt and I loved being
at the beach when I was a kid. I usually hit the Taj, the Trop, the Borgata,
anywhere the tournaments are at.


JOHNNY ST LOUIS MO.: HEY FISH IVE WATCHED WILLIAMS PLAY AND IM NOT ALL THAT
IMPRESSED HE DID GET LUCKY LAST YEAR IN THE WORLD SERIES BUT U NEED LUCK,DO U
CONSIDER HIM A TOP NOTCH PLAYER?

Scott Fischman: David's got game. He's brilliant,
aggressive and did not get lucky. He plays games other than hold'em as well.
He's also young and with experience you'll see him win bracelet after bracelet
in the future.


Johannes Pismo Beach, CA: Can you give a few starting tips to the new comer? Can
you also talk about the challenges of moving from a low limit game to a higher
limit game

Scott Fischman: Starting tips - Same old trial and
error. Pick different games and try different styles. As far as moving up in
limits, make sure you are comfortable making the jump, you dont want to be
playing with scared money. Make sure that you are playing with sufficient
bankroll to do so as well.


Tony (Brookfield, CT): Realistically, what percentage of the of the tournaments
you enter do you think you have to "cash" in to be a successful tournament pro??


Scott Fischman: Literally, I never do the math like
that. When it comes to stuff like that I'm not the biggest math guy in the
world. I go more by feel. I know that when I do play, I dont play to squeeze in
the money, I play for first. If you get first once every rarity its worth it
because of the payouts these days.


Brian (Tampa): Where did you get the nickname "empty seat"?

Scott Fischman: Something that I gave to myself because
when I first started playing I didn't want to be recognized at the table. I
didn't want people noticiing me. When I first started playing I was also really,
really right. Guess the name doesn't suit me that well anymore.


Mike (Michigan): Hey Scott, being an avid internet player...what advice can you
give that is most important to being successful on the net?...it seems that
there are so many "bad beats" and "bad players getting lucky" out there...?

Scott Fischman: Dont give up if you see bad players and
bad beats. Its normal. Stay focused. Dont let your day to day results affect
you. Think of online as a long term thing and you will win over time. Dont let
the little things get to you.


Sean (Denver, CO): Playing multiple tables at the same time online . . . good or
bad for your chances to win more money?

Scott Fischman: Add 1 game at a time, dont go too fast.
Dont go 1 game to 4, or 2 to 6. Its a good thing. Playing multiple games
increase your earnings. Make sure that you have the right equipment to do it.


Chops (Wicked Chops Poker): Overall how good a job do you think the Rio did
handling the WSOP this year? And do you think they need to scale back the amount
of media allowed between the ropes?

Scott Fischman: No, media was fine, but I think they did
poorly in other areas - restrooms and food. Not to mention how they kicked out
everyone when it was time for players to making the money. I thought that was
atrocious. I couldn't belive it. I had two friends and I wanted to sweat em, it
was unbelievable.


Nate (Chicago): How much does being a former dealer help your game?

Scott Fischman: Tremendously. Definitely one of the best
tools to becoming a better player. I got to play a lot on the internet to learn
the general aspect and when I was dealing I got to watch people for eight hours
a day. It gave me a good feel for the game.


Kevin (Syracuse, NY): Do you hope the WSOP brings back HORSE events so you can
defend your bracelet?

Scott Fischman: Yea! I was pissed that they didn't have
HORSE. I want them to have HORSE and other mixed games as well. They didn't have
half hold'em and half stud. They skipped out on a lot of mixed games this year.


Kelly Tucson: what is your computer setup? How many and which monitors, video
cards ect... do you use to effectivly play multiple tables?

Scott Fischman: As far as knowing the techincal stuff, I
have no idea. But I do have 2 21" monitors which can give you 4 games on each
with no overlap. The equipment is essential to being a good multi-tabler.


Jeff: You say on your site that you pick up new players, how do you determine
which players deserve to be looked at?

Scott Fischman: Basically, the amount of dedication and
time they spend. If they really show me that they want to play and that they are
good at it I'll give them a shot, kind of the shot that I had. For more
information on this, check out thefishtank.com


mike (fayetteville, ar): what about these programs you can supposedly use online
to fine tune your game ?? How do you beat them ??

Scott Fischman: I havent used any of those programs and
I dont know much about that.


James Allenton, PA: I am playing in a no-limit tournament, about 30 people who
play all the time. for a novice like myself what strategy should I go in with?
Only play high pairs and AK?

Scott Fischman: No, that will get you busted quick. You
need to feel it out and switch it up a little bit. Play your position, dont
stick to 1 way.


Lord Jason (,NJ): Hi Scott, What is the largest pot you ever one in a cash game?


Scott Fischman: I lost a 50K pot a couple weeks ago at
commerce, and I've won $30K pots. I've just started playing higher limit cash
games.


Troy (NYC): How do the pros feel about the way poker has been portrayed to the
youth these past couple years? Do they think the glorification of it is
dangerous at all on teens, or are they just happy to be getting the recognition
that is long overdue?

Scott Fischman: No, they have been really telling kids
not to go and become poker players because it is tough. They aren't just happy
to get the ads. I've been kind of preaching the keep your job mentality for a
while now.


kevin los angeles: Which would you consider the best online tournament for a
good player trying to take it to the next level? Thanks man you got a mean game

Scott Fischman: The best online tournaments are the
weekend tournaments, the $200 buy in. There are satellites all week and if you
get lucky you can make a big score and really improve your status and your game.


Scott Fischman: Any more questions can be sent to my
email as I am doing a Q/A in Cardplayer from now on:
scottfischman@thefishtank.com. Come play against me at the fish tank as well.

Andrew Feldman: Thanks for the questions everyone. We
will be live at the USPC's next week!